Multiple curb chain



v. 1942- G. E. KEENE 2,300,624

MULTIPLE CURB CH'AIN Filed July 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a hm 2 SEE-F 5 G. E. KEENE MULTIPLE CURB CHAIN Nov. 3; 1942. I 2,300,624

Filed July 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 3, 1942. e. E. KEENE 7 2,300,624

MULTI PLE CURB CHAIN Filed July 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY NOV. 3, 1942. KEENE 2,300,624 I MULTIPLE CURB CHAIN Filed July 12, 1941 5 Sheets-Slgeet 5 I INVENTOR ATTORN Patented Nov. 3, 1942.

UNETED STTES PATNT FFICE MULTIPLE cums CHAIN George E. Keene, Lakewood, R. I assignor to Armbrust Chain Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Application July 12, 1941;, Serial No. 402,207

11 Claims.

forms the curb chain from the wire stock to its completed form.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of av novel apparatus and a novel method of manufacture more fully described in the detailed description following and more particularly defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the link forming mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an'enlarged vertical section of the link forming. mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clutch element;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the coil forming arbor;

Fig. 7' is a detailed view, partially in section, of the raising and lowering mechanism for the curbing head;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view of the rotating mechanism of the curbing head;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutting and gripping jaws;

, Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of the cutting jaw;

Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and side elevations respectively of the link forming portions of the machine in cutting position;

Figs. Hand 15 are similar views showing the severed link gripped by the curbing jaw;

Figs. 16 and 17 are similar views showing the link positioned between the gripping jaws by the curbing jaws;

Figs. 18 and 19 are similar views showing the link after curbing;

Figs. 20 and 21 are similar views showing the completed link positioned to receive the next link signed" to automatically provide a curb chain where the wire forming each link is passed through two or more of the links prior to the completion of the link being formed and prior to the s'everingofthe wire from the elongated piece from which it is fed. The hereinafter described machine and method provide a double curbed chain which is manufactured automatically without the necessity of hand manipulation of'the' wire stock or any of the machine parts.

The general construction of applicants machine can best befollowed in the plan view shown in Fig. 1' of the drawings. The machine is preferably laid out on a flat surface or. table top such as 25, power being applied to a single driving pulley '26. The machine comprises various units, each performing a particular function, and synchroniied to performthe various steps of the operating method in their proper sequence. A coil-of wire (not shown) is mounted on a stand adjacent the machine, and the wire stock 21.

feeds through'a guide 28 into the coil forming portion of the apparatus 29, which forms the wire into a' helix" and moves it towards the cutter 31]. When a sufficientamountof coiled wire has been advanced for'mak'ing a complete link, the curbing head 3'! moves forwardly and-grips the wire. The cutting jaw 32 then swings pastthe end of the cutter 30' to shear the link from the helix. The curbing head 3| then drops downwardly in alignment with a pair 'of gripping jaws positioned below the cutting jaws. The gripping jaws now grasp the link and hold it securely as the'curbingihead 3i isrotated through an angle of approximately to curb the link. After this operation. the'gripping jaws release the link and the jaws on the curbing head 3i turn back 90 and the curbing head is raised to its original position. This positions the link in the path of rotation 'of the helix so that further movement of the helix will pass the end'of the helix through the previously formed link; As the linking operation takes place, the curbing head releases the previously formed link and permits it to hang loosely'on the end of the helix. The curbing head then moves forwardly and grips the end portion of the helix which is to form the new link and the operation is'repeated.

After two links have thus been formed; the first formed link is positioned'by a finger 33 on the curbing head housing '99 which holds the first formed link in proper alignment with the second formed link so that the end of the heliX element 42.

will pass through both links simultaneously producing a double curb chain.

While any suitable means for operating the various units of the machine may be used, I prefer to apply the power to a shaft 34 and transmitted through proper gearing to shafts 35 and The coil forming unit The coil forming mechanism 29 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive of the drawings. Referring to these figures, I provide a block 31 having a bearing 38 at one end and a bearing 39 at the other end in horizontalfalignme'nt there with. A gear 48 is mounted contiguous the bear ing 38 and having an integral sleeve portion 4| extending into the bearing. Locked to the inner end of the sleeve 4| is a clutch element 42, having oppositely disposed clutching shoulders 43, and inclined surfaces 44. An arbor 45 is rotatably mounted within the sleeve 4| and the bearing 39. Fixed to the central portion of the arbor 45 is a complementary clutch member 46 having diametrically opposed recesses 41 which open towards the clutch element 42. Each recess 41 has mounted therein a spring-pressed pin 48 adapted to ride on the surface of the clutch element 42 and engage the shoulders 43, so that turning movement of the gear 48 in one direction causes interlocking engagement between the clutch element 42, pins 48 and complementary clutch member 46 and causes turning movement of the arbor 45, while turning movement of the gear 48 in the opposite direction will produce no movement of the arbor 45 inasmuch as the pins 48 will ride over the shoulders 43 of'the clutch Mounted in the forward end of the bearing 39 is an internally threaded housing 49 which may be securely held therein as by the set screw 58. The end of the arbor 45 extends into the housing 49 and is provided with an integral narrow reduced portion which extends through the internally threaded portion of the housing 49. The portion 5| is of the same crosssection as the outer shape of the link, and in the illustrated form is of oval cross-section to form the links illustrated in Fig. 22.

Th wire stock 21 feeds through the holder 28 and is threaded into the helical channel 52 formed by the internal thread of the housing 49. As the wire 21 is wound about the reduced portions 5| of the arbor 45 it is frictionally locked thereto so that rotation of the arbor 45 causes the engagement between the wire and the channel to pull the arbor forwardly. The unit 29 is.

driven by means of a gear 53 which is connected through a link 54 to a crank 55 keyed to the end of the shaft 36. The gear 53 is driven in one direction a sufficient distance to cause the gear 48 to make slightly more than a complete revolution and is then rocked in the opposite direction a sufiicient distance to cause the gear 48 to make slightly more than a complete revolution in its opposite direction. This movement is transmitted through the clutch members 42 and 46 so that the arbor 45 is alternately moved a complete revolution in one direction and then remains stationary as the gear 48 makes a complete revolution in the opposite direction inas- .much as the pins 48 will then ride over the inclined surfaces 44 and over the shoulders 43 of pping insert 16.

the clutch element 42. When the arbor 45 makes a complete revolution, it forces one complete turn of the helically wound wire out of the housing 49, this being sufficient to form a complete link. At this point rotation of the arbor stops, and backward movement of the arbor 45 is prevented by the inter-engagement of an outer spring 56 with a notch 51 in the outer circumference of the clutch member 46. Inasmuch as the tension on the helically wound wire has now terminated, its frictional engagement with the reduced portion 5| of the arbor is lost and this may be facilitated by a slight backward play of the arbor. This frees the arbor from the coil of wire. At this point, a cam 58 on the shaft 35 engages a lever 59 and causes it to move about a central pivot 68. The opposite end of the lever 59 loosely engages the end of a shaft 6| and pulls it through the bearing 62. The opposite end of the shaft 6| is provided with an opening 63' through which the lower end of a lever 64 passes. The lever 64 is pivoted, as at 65, in the base of the block 31. The opposite end of the lever 64 will therefore push against the clutch member 46 and force it backwardly against the action of the springs 41 so that the clutch member 46 and the arbor 45 will slide backwardly a distance sufilcient to push another link out of the housing 49. Turning movement of the gear 40 again. causes the arbor 45 to engage the helical wire within the housing 49 and push another section of the helical wire out of the housing to form a successive link.

The cutting and gripping jaws The cutting and gripping unit 32 is mounted to the left of the coil forming unit 29, as shown in Fig. 1, and is more fully shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings. The cutting and gripping unit 32 is mounted on a base 18 having an integral upstanding block 1|. Piv oted to the forward end of the base 18 are a pair of jaws 12 and 13, the upper ends of the pivot being mounted in, a bridge portion 14. Each of the jaws 12 and 13 is provided on its inner face with a lower and an upper recess for receiving gripping, cutting and shaping inserts which may be replaceable for different sizes and shapes of links. The jaws 13 is provided in its upper recess with a cutting insert 15 and in its lower recess with a gripping insert 16. The jaw 12 is provided in its upper recess with a shaping insert 11 and in its lower recess with a complementary gripping insert 18 cooperating with the The various inserts are retained in place as by set screws 19. The backs of the jaws 12 and 13 are tapered, as at 88, to form a V-shaped recess between the jaws. Slidably mounted in the block 1| is a wedge 8| adapted to enter the V-shaped recess between the back of the jaws 12 and 13 and force them into closed or gripping position. The back of the wedge 8| is provided with an adjustable portion 82 carrying a roller 83 adapted to bear against operating cams 84 and 85 on the shaft 36. The block 1| is also provided with fiat springs 86 adapted to bear against the outer rear sides of the jaws 12 and 13 and resiliently push the jaws into open position when the wedge is withdrawn.

Mounted above and cooperating with the cutting insert 15 is a cutting tool 81 which is adjustably mounted on a tool post 88 on the base 25. The helical wire extending from the coiling unit 29 turns into position between the cutting insert 15 and the cutting tool 81. At this point with the gripping and cuttin'gunit 32.

the wire is gripped by the jaws 89 of the curbing head 31. The cam 84 now bears against the wedge 8| forcing it between the rear portion of the jaws I2 and "I3 and causing the cutting insert 15 to move beneath the cutting tool 81 and sever the projecting link from the helix. Simultaneously therewith, the shaping insert 'I'I swings towards the cutting insert I5 and tends to push the free ends of the link into alignment. The cam 84 releases and the wedge 8I is withdrawn, the jaws I2 and I3 being swung to open position by the springs 86. Simultaneously therewith the curbing head 3|, the jaws 89 retaining the link therebetween, moves downwardly and then advances forwardly inserting the link between the gripping insert I6 and'l8. The cam 85 on the shaft 36 now operates the wedge 8| so that the gripping jaws close and the-link is nowgripped between the gripping insert I6 and I8 and the gripping jaws 89 on the curbing head. The

The curbing head The curbing head 3I is-mounted to the right of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 in alignment The curbing'head 3I comprises a curbing head housing 90 having a central horizontal bore -9I and adepending integral shank 92 slidably mounted for vertical movement in the base 25. A jaw holder 93 is mounted in the bore 9I and is provided at its forward end with a recess 94 in which the curbing jaws 89 are pivotally mounted. The

tapered and adapted to enter the V-shaped cutout 96 between thej'jaws89 to lock-the jaws against the action of the spring 91. The opposite end-ofthe wedge 99is provided with ahead I00 to which the operating forceis applied in working the jaws. The central outer section of the jaw holder 93? is provided with external teeth or gears IOI adapted to mesh with a rack I02 which is slidably mounted for horizontal movement beneath thejawholder 93 and at right angles -'to the axis of the jaw holder. The jaw holder 93 is further provided with a head I03 which-bears against a coil spring I04 positioned between thehead and the housing 90 and adapted to resiliently push the jaw holder and the jaws pivoted thereto to the right :as viewed in Fig. 8.

As can more readilybe seen in Figs. 1 and .9 the rack- I02 is provided at one end with an aligned shaft 105 carrying a-ba-r' I06 at its outer end to which springs -I0'I are hooked; the opposition ends of the springs being attached to the casting 90 so that tension of the springs serves to resiliently retain the rack in the position n as shown'in Fig. 9. The oppositdendcfthe :rack

-I02 is'provided witha head I08 bearing against levers I09 and H0. -Thelever I09is adapted to bear against a cam II I and the lever I I0 is adapted to bear against'a cam I I2, the cams III and H2 being keyed' to the operating shaft 35 as shown inFig. 1. g i I The horizontal movements of the jaw holder 93 are controlled from the mechanism at the extreme right of the machineas shown in Fig. 1. This comprises a block II3 provided with two plungers H4 and H5, the plunger H4 abutting the head I03 and the plunger II5 abutting the head I00 on the wedge 98. The plunger H4 is operated by a second plunger H9 in alignment therewith, which bears against a cam Ill, and the plunger H5 is operable by two plungers H8 and -II9 respectively operated by cams I20 and -I2I. The cams .II'I, I20 and IZI are mounted on the shaft 34. I

Vertical movement of the curbing head housing iscontrolled by the mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 7. Mounted intermediate the curbing head and the rear shaft 35 is a rocker arm I22 pivoted as at I23.t0 a standard I24. One end of the arm I22 bears against the top of the curbing head as shown in Fig. 7, and the other end rides on a cam I25 which is mounted on the shaft 35. Movement of the cam I25 will therefore raise the arm I22 and push the curbing head downwardly. A second rocker arm I26 is pivotally mounted beneath the table 25 and has one end bearing against the shank 92 of the curbing head housing 99 and its opposite end bearing against a plunger I21 which rides against the underside of a cam I28 mounted on the shaft 35. Movement of the cam I28 is adapted to move the rocker arm I26 downwardly and thus push the shank 92 upwardly, the cams I25 and I23 and rocker arms I22 and I23 cooperating to'impart vertical reciprocation to the curbing head.

The functions and operations of the curbing head 3| in relation to the previously described portions of the apparatus may now be summarized. When the coiling unit 29 has advanced a sufiicient'portion of the helical wire to make one link, the cam III bears against the lever I09 and pushes the rack I02 transversely of the jaw holder 93 a sufiicient distance to impart a small turn to the jaw holder so that the angle of the jaw opening will be in alignment with the angle at which the helical wire is disposed. While this is taking place, the cam I H on the shaft 34 moves the plunger H6 and plunger II4 against the head I03 causing the jaw holder 93 carrying the jaws 89 to move forwardly, the jaws 89 being positioned on each side of. the protruding helical wire. At this point, the cam I2I on the shaft 34 moves the plunger H9 and H5 against the head I00 on the wedge 99 which move; forwardly into the recess 96 and causes the jaws 89 to close against the action of the spring 97!. The gripping and cutting unit 32 now severs the link from the helix and the cam .I II releases the curbing head so that it now is returned to vertical position by movement of the rack l02 caused by the springs I91. The cam I25 on the shaft 35' now causes the rocker arm I22'to move the curbing head housing .90 downwardly so that the severed link i brought between the open jaws of the gripping inserts I9 and 78 which now close upon it to grip the opposite side of the link. The cam II2 0n the shaft 35 now bears against the lever H0 and causes the rack I02 to turn the jaw holder 93 through an angle of approximately 90. Since the. gripping-andcutting unit remains fixed, the

link is curbedby the twisting action ofthe curb?- ing head. The gripping inserts I6 and, 'I8 now releasethe link and the. curbing head jaws 89 are turned back .through an angle of 90?; by; the release of the cam II2.. Simultaneously therewith, the cam I28 bears downwardly: on the shaft I21 and the rocker arm I26 pushes. the shank 92 upwardly and causes the curbingheadhousing carrying the jaw holder to move upwardly to its original horizontal level. Simultaneously with the aforementioned operation, the cam I2I releases its pressure on the head I89, the cam I I1 havingalreadyreleased pressure on the plunger I I4. This causes the spring I04 to move the jaw holder 93 to the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 8,

the cam I29 now moving the plungerIIB against the plunger H5 so that the wedge 99 will be retained between the jaws to keep them in closed position during this movement. The link, is now positioned in the path of movement of the helix so that further movement of the coiling unit29 will cause the end of the wire coil to pass-through the completed link retained between thejaws 89. As the end of the wire coil islinked through the completed link, the cam I29 releases the plungers H8 and H5 from the head I09 and the jaws 89 immediately release the newly formed link which is allowed to drop onto the end of the helix. Themachine is now.ready for another cycle of operation.

The guide finger end curving downwardly in the path of movement of the jaws .89 as shown in Fig. 1. After the above-described. operation of 'the machine has formed two links, the'second link being 'retained in the jaws 89 of the curbing head preparatory to linking with a third link to be formed, the backward movement of the curbing head,

which is to the right as shown in Fig. 1, will cause the end of the finger 33 to retard and block the movement of the first link and push it into position along the second link so that as the end of the helix moves forwardly it will pass through both the first and second links before the jaws 89 let go of the second link. This repeated action causes the formation of a double curb chain instead of the single curb chain which would otherwise have been formed.

The operation To set up the machine for operation, the clutch member 46 is loosened from the arbor by releasing the clamp screws 66 shown in Fig. 4 and I the arbor is ,withdrawn until the end of the reduced portion 2| comes under the beginning of the internal threaded channel 52. The wire stock 2'I is passed through the guide 28, and the end of it is bent and inserted into a slot 61 at the end of the arbor. The arbor is then manuallyrotated by inserting a bar-through the opening 68 at its opposite end. As the arbor is manually rotated the wire stock will wind around the reduced portion 5| and pull the arbor inwardly until the end of the helical wire will begin to pro- .ject from thehousing 49. Theclamp screws 56 machine is'the slight turning of the. curbing head .1

caused. by the movement ofth cam H I on the shaft- 35. ,The curbing head isthen moved forwardly by the action of, the cam I I1 and the jaws 89 grasp the endof the helical wire as shown in Figs. 14 .an d; 15, and the cutting insert I5, shapinginsert I1, and cutting tool 81 are brought into ;operation by thecam 84 to complete the cutting ofthe link-as shown in Figs. l l and 15.

The cam 4 now releases thecutting insert I5 andthe jaws I2 and I3 are open. The curbing headis now pushed downwardly by the unit illustrated in 7, t he cam- I25 bearing against the rocker arm I22=and pushing the curbing head casing 90 downwardly. This causes the jaws 89 to position the'link between the gripping jaws I6 and I8 as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. Action of the cam causes the gripping jaw inserts "I6 and 'I8 to grasp the opposite side of the link. The curbing head is now turned' through an angle .of 90i by the action of the cam I I2 and the rack I82. This brings the jaws in the position shown in Figs.l8 and 19. y V l The gripping inserts I6 and 18' are now released andthe curbing head is turned by 'the rack I02 back through an angle of 90. to its original position and is pushed upwardly by the action of the cam I28 on the plunger I2'I and-on I26 as shown in Fig. 7. Simultaneously therewith, the cams 'I I1 and IZIonthe shaft 34 release and cause the .jaw holder 93 and-jaws 89 .to move back. It should ,be; noted that when the jawsare inthe position shown Figs. 18 and 19 the guide finger33 rests on the jaws 89 adjacent the outer circumference of the link just formed. As the movementhereinabove described takes place and the jaws assume the position shown in Fi gs. 20 and 21, thebackward movement of the curbing head causes the newly formed link to pass beneath the end of the guide finger 33 which holds back the progress of the link previously formed and suspended .on thenewly formed linkand positions it, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, so that the end of the helix rotatingfrom the end of the coiling ,unit 29 passesthrough both the newly formed link and the link previously formed prior tothe release of the link from the jaws 89.

1. In a machine for the .continuous manufacture of multiple linked chains, means for successively shaping Wire lengths into links, and .means for interlocking the. links comprising mechanism for successively holding each shaped vlink in position toreceive a length of wire therethrough, means for moving the next succeeding link in aligmnent with the previous held link to also receive the same length of wire therethrough, means for, feeding, wire through both, links, and means for cutting the fed wire into lengths for shaping to;-form the next link after passage through thetwolinks. v n

2. In a machine for-the continuous manufacture of double curbed chain, means for successively. shaping wire lengths into curbed links, and means. for',-interlocking the links comprising mechanismfor successivelymoving each curbed linkinvposition to receive a length of wire therethrough, means for stopping movement fthe previously .formed link during the movement of the positioning .means, means for feeding wire through bothzlinks, and means for cutting the fed wire intonlengths forshaping to form the nextcurbed linkafter passage through the two links. r

3-. In a machine for the continuous manufac- ;ture ot multiple linked chains, means forsuccessively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively shaping cut lengths of said wire into links, and means for interlocking the links comprising mechanism for successively holding each shaped link in position to receive the wire therethrough, means for moving the next succeeding link in alignment with the previous held link to also receive the wire therethrough, means for feeding the wire helically forwardly to cause the Wire end to pass upwardly through both links, and means for cutting the fed wire into lengths for shaping to form the next link after passage through the two links.

4. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple linked chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively shaping cut lengths of said, wire into links, and means for interlocking the links comprising a stop finger for successively holding each shaped link in position to receive the wire therethrough, means for moving the next succeeding link in alignment with the previous held link to also receive the wire therethrough, means for feeding the wire helically forwardly to cause the wire end to pass upwardly through both links, and means for cutting the fed wire into lengths for shaping to form the next link after passage through the two links.

5. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly inthe path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links wherefrom, means for gripping and moving the last made link into posi tion to receive the fed wire, and means to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping and moving means, whereby said last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to receive the fed wire through a plurality of links.

6. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links wherefrom, means for gripping and curbing the link, means for gripping and moving the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and means to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping and moving means, whereby said last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to receive the fed wire through a plurality of links.

7. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a Helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links wherefrom, means for gripping and moving the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and a stop element to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping and moving means, whereby said last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to receive the fed Wire through a, plurality of links.

8. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links wherefrom, means for gripping and moving the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and means to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping and moving means, whereby said last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to receive the fed wire through a plurality of links.

9. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wireforwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links wherefrom, means for gripping and curbing the links, means for gripping and moving the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and a stop element to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping and moving means, whereby said last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to receive the fed wire through a plurality of links, the free end of said fed wire passing upwardly through the links.

10. In a machine for the continuous manufacture of multiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links therefrom, a gripping head, a gripping jaw slidable in said head for gripping and curbing the links, means for sliding said gripping jaw to move the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and means on said head and extending into the path of movement of said jaw and link to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping jaw, whereby the last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to permit the fed wire to pass through a plurality of links.

11. In a machine for the continuous manufacture ofmultiple curbed chains, means for successively feeding wire forwardly in the path of a helix, means for successively cutting segments of the wire and forming links therefrom, a gripping head, a gripping jaw slidable in said head for gripping and curbing the links, means for sliding said gripping jaw to move the last made link into position to receive the fed wire, and a stop finger on said head and extending into the path of movement of said jaw and link to prevent movement of the previously formed links during the movement of said gripping jaw, whereby the last made link is moved into alignment with the previously formed links to permit the fed wire to pass through a plurality of links.

GEORGE E. KEENE. 

